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Medical board says it can't collect patient records

Dr. Brabham surrendered license in October

Published: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 4:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at 4:48 p.m.

Patients seeking medical records from a Hendersonville doctor who forfeited her license in October may be out of luck.

Dr. Felicia Brabham was investigated by the N.C. Medical Board when record requests from patients and another physician went unanswered, along with inquiries from the board. She was charged with unprofessional conduct and failure to respond to the board's inquiries and was scheduled for a hearing in October. She voluntarily surrendered her license on the day that was initially set for the hearing.

The Medical Board was asking customers of the former practice to be patient with record requests and to mail requests to Brabham's former practice at 735 Sixth Ave., Suite D, Hendersonville, NC 28739-4169.

Her practice closed in October. The board said that Brabham would have 30 days to respond before they would start inquiring about a record request's progress. Patients who had not received records more than 30 days after a request were advised to call the Medical Board's Complaint Department at 1-800-253-9653 (ext. 232, 236 or 261).

The Medical Board's complaint department is now advising patients that it will make Brabham aware of complaints, but cannot make her release copies of the records.

"We can only deny her license if she does not provide you a copy should she ever reapply for licensure in N.C.," Judie Clark, director of the medical board's complaint department, replied in an email to a frustrated patient in December.

In Henderson County, Brabham faces charges of misdemeanor simple worthless check, termination of group health insurance, felony breaking and entering, and felony larceny after breaking and entering. Her case has been continued until Jan. 14.

On Oct. 11, Brabham was charged with breaking and entering and larceny after police say she broke into a neighboring medical office to continue seeing patients.

Hendersonville police Sgt. Nathan Smith said Brabham moved her medical records, lab supplies and even her cat into the neighboring office in her professional building. That office space was leased at the time by a South Carolina-based plastic surgery practice and only used about once a month.

<p>Patients seeking medical records from a Hendersonville doctor who forfeited her license in October may be out of luck.</p><p>Dr. Felicia Brabham was investigated by the N.C. Medical Board when record requests from patients and another physician went unanswered, along with inquiries from the board. She was charged with unprofessional conduct and failure to respond to the board's inquiries and was scheduled for a hearing in October. She voluntarily surrendered her license on the day that was initially set for the hearing.</p><p>The Medical Board was asking customers of the former practice to be patient with record requests and to mail requests to Brabham's former practice at 735 Sixth Ave., Suite D, Hendersonville, NC 28739-4169. </p><p>Her practice closed in October. The board said that Brabham would have 30 days to respond before they would start inquiring about a record request's progress. Patients who had not received records more than 30 days after a request were advised to call the Medical Board's Complaint Department at 1-800-253-9653 (ext. 232, 236 or 261).</p><p>The Medical Board's complaint department is now advising patients that it will make Brabham aware of complaints, but cannot make her release copies of the records.</p><p>"We can only deny her license if she does not provide you a copy should she ever reapply for licensure in N.C.," Judie Clark, director of the medical board's complaint department, replied in an email to a frustrated patient in December.</p><p>In Henderson County, Brabham faces charges of misdemeanor simple worthless check, termination of group health insurance, felony breaking and entering, and felony larceny after breaking and entering. Her case has been continued until Jan. 14.</p><p>On Oct. 11, Brabham was charged with breaking and entering and larceny after police say she broke into a neighboring medical office to continue seeing patients.</p><p>Hendersonville police Sgt. Nathan Smith said Brabham moved her medical records, lab supplies and even her cat into the neighboring office in her professional building. That office space was leased at the time by a South Carolina-based plastic surgery practice and only used about once a month.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>